2009 Infiniti FX Preview

PREVIEW—You have to feel for automakers when it comes time to follow up what was a home run. There’s a lot of sophomore slump out there, and most of it comes from the expectations of buyers who were wowed once, and want to be wowed again. The Infiniti FX is all-new for 2009, and the good news is it looks like it will be as much of a hit as the original.

Styling & Power

Known internally by those at Infiniti as the “Bionic Cheetah” for it’s high tech, yet distinctively aggressive feline lines, the original FX was one of the first high-performance crossovers, taking on the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne, and proving to be a match for them performance wise, and giving them a pretty good spanking in the value department as well.


Like the previous model, Infiniti will offer both 6- and 8-cylinder versions, with the 303-hp FX35 and 390-hp FX50, respectively. The FX35 will be available in both rear and all-wheel drive, with the FX50 exclusively in AWD. Both models feature an all-new 7-speed automatic, engineered for both great acceleration and reasonable fuel economy. But with gas at nearly $5 a gallon as we write this, the luxury division of Nissan will probably be selling a much greater percentage of 6-cylinder models.


Either way, it looks like it’s going to be one great vehicle. The style is evolutionary but still stunning, more muscular and aggressive than before, maybe even a bit controversial, but we like the bold direction and character.

Interior & Amenities

The interior goes the full-boat luxury route, looking similar to the smaller Infiniti EX35 crossover SUV, with beautifully crafted materials including available quilted leather-appointed seats and elegant Maple wood detail, hand-stained to deepen its grain. Add in a simplicity and ease-of-use to its design, and you’ve got a package that puts many of the European brands to shame.